1944: The Irvine Report

Against a background of reconstruction and development, the Vice Chancellors of United Kingdom Universities established a special commission under the High Court Judge Sir Cyril Asquith to "consider the principles which should guide the promotion of higher education, learning and research and the development of universities in the colonies."

The sub-committee of the Asquith Commission set up to report on the needs of the West Indies became known as the Irvine Committee after its chair, Sir James Irvine, Vice- Chancellor of the University of St. Andrews.

1947: Humble Beginnings

Dr. Thomas Taylor opened the first office of the University College of the West Indies at 62 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston, on February 1, 1947. The opening was a simple affair, with three or four prayers read in the presence of Dr. Taylor's wife, Georgina; Philip Sherlock, the only other member of the Faculty; Sylvia Dunkerly, the sole Secretary and the College's first driver, George Errar.

1947: The Mona Campus

At the first meeting of the University College's Provisional Council from 7-9 January, 1947 it was reported that, of the sites inspected for the new university, the 650 acres of land south-east of the Mona Reservoir and Mona aqueduct embracing Gibraltar Camp would be the most suitable.

UCWI's Principal, Dr. T.W.J. Taylor, then entered into negotiations with the Government of Jamaica for the land.

1947: The Gibraltar Camp

The site selected for the University College included Gibraltar Camp used during World War II to house refugees from Gibraltar and Malta as well as German and Italian prisoners of war. Early in 1947, it was agreed that the Camp was to be vacated and handed over for the use of the new university in early January, 1948.

1947: The University's Armorial Bearings

The armorial bearings for UCWI were designed by Mr. H Ellis Tomlinson of Thornton-le-Fyfe in Lancashire for the sum of 120 guineas. In a letter dated February 7, 1947 from Tomlinson to Walter Adams of the Colonial Office, Tomlinson outlined a proposal with notes on possible designs for the College's armorial bearing, parts of which were incorporated in the final approved design.

1948: Official opening

Early in 1947, the University College relocated to Gibraltar Camp at Mona which had been the site of a camp for refugees from Gibraltar and Malta as well as German and Italian prisoners of war. On October 3, 1948 the Mona Campus was officially opened with 10 females and 23 males from across the region entering the fledgling University in the Faculty of Medicine.

1948: The University's First Chancellor

On January 10, 1948, the Principal wrote to the members of the Provisional Council informing them that Council would be asked to suggest who should be the first Chancellor.

The Principal indicated that there were three names for which there seemed to be the most support: Lord Mountbatten, the Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, and Sir James Irvine.

1948: The University's Charter

The Royal Charter and Statutes of the University College of the West Indies were approved by the Privy Council on December 22, 1948.

1948: The University's first governing Council

The first governing body of the University College of the West Indies (UCWI) was a Provisional Council composed of representatives of the seven contributing territories.

1949: The University's Motto

The UWI's Latin Motto, which appears on its armorial bearings, "Oriens Ex Occidente Lux" means "Light Rising From the West". The motto was first proposed by the Principal of Queen's Royal College, Trinidad, Mr. R.M. Homer, and almost identical wording was suggested by Mr. Maurice Platnaver of Brasenose College, Oxford.

1950: Early enrolment

By 1950, UC (as the College was affectionately called) was well established at Mona. The 304 students in residence included 138 who were studying medicine, 65 in the Faculty of Natural Sciences, 85 in Arts and 16 in Education. There were only 80 women in the group.

1953: The University and West Indian Federation

In 1953, the governments of the British West Indies and the United Kingdom agreed to establish a Federal Government in the West Indies. The Federal Government came into being in 1958.

The University College of the West Indies played a major role in the Federation as a chief source of trained manpower, expertise, and knowledge about West Indian societies and their economies and as a symbol of West Indian hopes for regional unity.

1955: The University Chapel

In 1955, in order to raise funds for the expansion of the University, an appeal was launched in the name of the Princess Alice, the University's first Chancellor. One of the first large donations was the sum of £40,000 given anonymously by a Canadian for the building of a chapel.

1960: The St. Augustine Campus

During the Federal period, the survival of the University College as a West Indian institution depended on its ability to maintain good relations with the Federal Government and its member states, a task which proved increasingly difficult as conflict between member states, especially Jamaica and Trinidad, grew.

1962: From College to University

A new royal Charter constituting and founding the University of the West Indies as a degree-granting University was passed under the Great Seal of the Realm on April 2, 1962 with Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, as the first Chancellor and Philip Sherlock as the first Vice Chancellor.

1967: The Cave Hill Campus

On Monday, October 16, 1967 the College of Arts and Science at Barbados, which had been temporarily situated at Deep Water Harbour, opened the academic year at the new university buildings at Cave Hill, on a 45 acre site provided by the Government of Barbados.